There is argument about the ratio of young people participating who are really reached by “Scared Straight” programs.
There is little dispute, however, that some youths change their ways after seeing firsthand the harsh reality of life inside prisons and jails that such programs provide. So if only two of 10 young people get their lives on an even relatively straight and narrow after experiencing prison and the people held there, that’s still two who didn’t waste their lives in lockup.
Calipatria State Prison’s “Straight Life” program appeared to have an impact on the Calipatria High School students who went into the prison this week. The students toured the prison, talked to and were talked to by staff and inmates and even ate inmate meals.
The young people who participated in the “Straight Life,” program, some of whom are not on optimal life paths, didn’t like what they heard and saw in the prison. To that we say, “Wonderful.”
Such programs are a resource that can be used liberally by local school districts. After all, we have two large state prisons and a large county jail in Imperial County, and they are full of inmates who can tell young people about how their lives went astray and how the youths can avoid similar fates.
Facing long sentences, many inmates volunteer because they want to do something positive with their lives. Inmates involved cannot be convicted child molesters or rapists nor have discipline issues in the prison.
Frankly, these inmates are folks who don’t get a lot of kudos in their lives, but for such involvement we applaud the inmates. They easily could sit in their cells and brood or, even worse, cause problems in prison. Instead, they are trying to help the next generation stay out of trouble.
The inmates involved may not hear this often, but they should be proud of themselves, specifically for their participation in the “Straight Life” program.
THE ISSUE:
“Straight Life” program
WE SAY:
It can help.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
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